Computer-implemented systems and methods for an automated application interface

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for an automated application interface. One or more wizards may be used to receive user input in order to perform one or more software interface operations to manipulate a first set of data between data analysis software and database software. Information associated with the user input may be captured and used to generate one or more template data stores. A user interface may be used to modify at least one template data store to identify a subsequent set of data. The template data stores may be automatically executed in an identified sequence to perform software interface and data analysis operations for the subsequent set of data.

FIELD

The technology described in this patent document relates generally to software interfaces. More specifically, computer-implemented systems and methods for an automated application interface are provided.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Data analysis software often requires a user to manually perform numerous operations in a specific sequence to generate a report from information stored in a database. For instance, the user is often required to manipulate data between the data analysis software and database software and perform operations on the data using both the data analysis and database software. For example, in order to generate a report using an activity based management (ABM) software application based on data stored in a database, a user may need to 1) export the appropriate table from the ABM software to the database software, 2) execute the appropriate database operation to update the table, 3) import the updated table back to the ABM software, and 4) perform any necessary operations using the ABM software to generate the report using the updated table. Although one or more wizards are typically provided to make these steps easier for the user, the process is often time consuming. Moreover, it is often necessary to perform these same tasks on a periodic basis, for example to generate periodic (e.g., monthly) reports. Programming software applications to automatically perform the necessary steps to generate a report would typically require significant programming knowledge, for example to program complicated XML or batch files.

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for an automated application interface. One or more wizards may be used to receive user input in order to perform one or more software interface operations to manipulate a first set of data between data analysis software and database software. Information associated with the user input may be captured and used to generate one or more template data stores. A user interface may be used to modify at least one template data store to identify a subsequent set of data. The template data stores may be automatically executed in an identified sequence to perform software interface and data analysis operations for the subsequent set of data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an example system for providing an automated application interface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting another example system for providing an automated application interface.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting an example system for providing an automated application interface for an activity based management (ABM) software application.

FIG. 4 depicts example external processes that may be accessed by the automated application interface.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram depicting an example method for providing an automated application interface.

FIGS. 6-25 are screen shots showing an example of how reports may be generated with activity based management (ABM) software using an automated application interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an example system 30 for providing an automated application interface 32. The system includes one or more wizards 34 that are used to perform one or more software interface operations 36 to manipulate data between data analysis software 38 and database software 40. The data analysis software 38 may, for example, be activity-based management (ABM) software or other software for analyzing data stored in a database 42. The database software 40 may be any known software application for managing the storage of information in a database 42. The wizards 34 are operation-specific user interfaces that are configured to receive the user input 44 necessary to perform an operation using the data analysis software or the database software. The wizards 34 may, for example, be executed by the data analysis software or the database software, or may be executed independently of the data analysis and database software.

The wizards 34 are configured to capture information associated with the user input 44 and the one or more software interface operations 36 to generate one or more template data stores 49. In addition, one or more data analysis operations 46 performed using the data analysis software 38 and one or more database operations 48 performed using the database software 40 may also be captured to generate the one or more template data stores 49. The template data stores 49 may, for example, be XML files or batch files for performing the captured operations 36, 46, 48.

In operation, the wizards 34, data analysis software 38 and database software 40 are used to perform a series of operations 36, 46, 48 on a first set of data. For example, the series of operations 36, 46, 48 may be performed to generate a first report with the data analysis software 38. The one or more template data stores 49 are generated during the process of performing the series of operations 36, 46, 48 on the first set of data. The template data stores 49 may then be used to automate the process for subsequent sets of data (e.g., to generate reports for subsequent months, etc.).

To perform the series of operations 36, 46, 48 for a subsequent set of data, the template data stores 49 are modified, as necessary, to identify the subsequent set of data. The automated application interface 32 is used to select template data stores 49 to identify the desired operations and to identify the sequence in which the operations are to be performed. The automated application interface 32 is configured to automatically execute the identified template data stores 49 in the identified sequence to perform the series of operations on the subsequent set of data. Once the identified operations are performed, a notification 50 may be generated to indicate whether the operations were successful.

For example, to generate a report using the data analysis software 38, it may be necessary to perform the following sequence of operations: 1) export data from the data analysis software 38 to the database software 40; 2) execute one or more database operations 48 to update the data; 3) import the updated data from the database software 40 to the data analysis software 38, and 4) execute one or more data analysis operations 46 to generate the report. The automated application interface 32 may, for example, be used to identify a sequence in which template data stores 49 associated with each of these operations need to be performed in order to automatically generate a report for the subsequent set of data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting another example system 60 for providing an automated application interface 62. This example 60 illustrates that one or more wizards 64 may also be used to perform the database operations and/or the data analysis operations 68, and to capture information associated with these operations 66, 68 in the one or more template data stores 70.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting an example system 80 for providing an automated application interface 82 for an activity based management (ABM) software application 84. This example 80 illustrates a plurality of wizards 86 that may be used to perform operations using the ABM software application 84 and/or a database software application 88. For example, an export wizard may be provided to export data from the ABM software 84 to the database software, an import wizard may be provided to import data from the database software 88 to the ABM software 84, a calculate wizard may be provided to perform a data analysis operation using the ABM software, and a report data wizard may be provided to generate a report using the ABM software. Other wizards may also be provided.

In addition to performing specific ABM and/or database software operations, the wizards 86 generate one or more XML files 90, which are used by the automated application interface 82 to automatically perform a sequence of operations on subsequent data sets. In order to automatically repeat a sequence of operations for subsequent data, the XML files are modified, as necessary, to identify the subsequent set of data, and a sequence for performing the operations is identified using the automated application interface 82. The automated application interface 82 then performs the operations by executing the XML files in the identified sequence.

Also illustrated in FIG. 3 are a plurality of external processes 92 that the automated application interface 82 may access to perform the designated operations and/or other functions. Some example external processes 94-98 that may be accessed by the automated application interface 82 are illustrated in FIG. 4. For instance, the automated application interface 82 may provide an email notification using an SMTP server 96 to indicate whether the automated sequence of operations were performed successfully. In another example, a task scheduling wizard 98 may be used in conjunction with the automated application interface 82 to schedule a date and time at which the automated sequence of operations are to be performed by the automated application interface 82.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram 100 depicting an example method for providing an automated application interface. In step 102, a series of software operations are performed manually for an initial set of data and the results of the operations are verified to ensure that they are performed successfully. For instance, one or more software interface, data analysis and/or database operations may be performed on the initial set of data, and one or more wizards may be used to assist in the manual performance of one or more of the operations. In step 104, API XML files and/or other template files are generated for each of the operations that are successfully performed in step 102. The API XML files or other template files may, for example, be automatically generated during the performance of step 102.

In order to automate the operations performed manually in step 102, one or more of the XML and/or other template files are updated in step 106 to identify a subsequent set of data. In step 108, an automated application interface is used to select the XML or other template files for execution and to identify the sequence in which the files are to be executed. As illustrated, the automated application interface may be in the form of a text editor, eliminating the need for expensive and complex programming software. In the illustrated example, the automated application interface utilizes a text file referred to as “EasyAPI.” The illustrated “EasyAPI” file identifies six example operations (export, run, import, calculate, export report and run) and their respective XML or other template files specific to an activity based management (ABM) software application. The example ABM-based operation commands and their functions are described in following table.

Command Function Export Export model data. “c:\abm\xml\your_export.xml” Run Execute external “c:\sas\your_sas_batch.sas” processes (e.g., SAS Batches, vbscripts, etc.) Import Import model data. “c:\abm\xml\your_import.xml” Calculate Calculate and/or “c:\abm\xml\your_calculate.xml” generate cubes. Export Report Export report data. “c:\abm\xml\your_export_report.xml”

It should be understood, however, that the automated application interface may be used with other types of software applications in addition to activity based management (ABM) software. In addition, interface types other than a text editor could also be used for the automated application interface. For instance, in one example, the automated application interface commands and their sequence could be selected using a graphical user interface.

With reference again to FIG. 5, the operations identified in the automated application interface are executed in their identified sequence at step 110. At step 112, the method determines if an email service is available to the automated application interface. For example, the automated application interface may determine if it is has access to an SMTP server. If email service is available, then a status notification is generated at step 114 in the form of an email message that indicates whether the identified operations were successfully performed. Else, if email service is not available, then an alternative status notification is generated in step 116, for instance in the form of a pop-up window.

It should be understood that similar to the other processing flows described herein, one or more of the steps and the order in the flowchart may be altered, deleted, modified and/or augmented and still achieve the desired outcome.

FIGS. 6-25 are screen shots showing an example of how reports may be generated with activity based management (ABM) software using an automated application interface. FIGS. 6-21 show an example of the manual steps for generating the report for an initial set of data. FIG. 22-25 show how an example automated application interface in the form of a text file may be used to automatically perform the sequence of operations to generate the same ABM report for a subsequent set of data.

FIG. 6 depicts an example data model created using an ABM software application. The example model is for a fictitious company, Solutions, Inc., and includes model data to associate costs with specific categories of activities performed at two different company locations. Note that the example ABM model depicted in FIG. 6 is for the January 2006 period and lists $0 for all activities. The model includes $0 values because the model data (e.g., salary and labor hours) needs to be updated from an ERP system (e.g., SAP, Oracle, etc.) To update the model data, an export wizard is used to export the January 2006 tables to the database software, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The success of the export operation is then verified, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In addition, the export wizard generates an XML file, as illustrated in FIG. 9, which may later be used in connection with the automated application interface to automatically perform the export operation for a subsequent set of data. The export XML file may, for example, be generated using Activity-Based Management software sold by SAS Institute Inc., or using other available software that may have other required fields.

FIG. 10 depicts an example database software application, which is used to obtain the model data for the January 2006 period from the database. For example, SAS Enterprise software may be used to obtain the January 2006 salary/labor hours from external ERP systems like SAP, Oracle or others. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the ABM model has been updated to replace the $0 values with actual cost values. In addition, the manual execution of the database software operation illustrated in FIG. 10 generates a batch file (e.g., a SAS batch job), which may later be used in connection with the automated application interface to automatically perform the database operation(s) on a subsequent set of data. The batch file may, for example, contain SQL/Datastep codes used to obtain data values from the database.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the updated January 2006 tables are imported back to the ABM software using an import data wizard. The success of the import operation is then verified, as illustrated in FIG. 12. In addition, the manual operation using the import data wizard generates an XML file, as illustrated in FIG. 13, which may later be used in connection with the automated application interface to automatically perform the import operation for a subsequent set of data. The import XML file may, for example, be generated using Activity-Based Management software sold by SAS Institute Inc., or using other available software that may have other required fields.

FIG. 14 depicts an example ABM calculate operation, which is performed to calculate cost data using the updated January 2006 tables. The success of the ABM calculate operation is then verified, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The operation summary depicted in FIG. 15 shows that the operation was completed with no errors. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the ABM model for the January 2006 period now includes the calculated cost values. In addition, the manual execution of the ABM operation generates an XML file, as illustrated in FIG. 17, which may later be used in connection with the automated application interface to automatically perform the ABM operation on a subsequent set of data. The calculate XML file may, for example, be generated using Activity-Based Management software sold by SAS Institute Inc., or using other available software that may have other required fields.

With the actual values calculated for the January 2006 tables, an ABM report may be generated using a report data wizard, as illustrated in FIG. 18. The success of the report generation operation is verified, as illustrated in FIG. 19, and a report for the January 2006 activities is generated, as illustrated in FIG. 20. In addition, the report data wizard generates an XML file, as illustrated in FIG. 21, which may later be used in connection with the automated application interface to automatically perform the report generation operation for a subsequent set of data. The report XML file may, for example, be generated using Activity-Based Management software sold by SAS Institute Inc., or using other available software that may have other required fields.

Once the sequence of manual operations depicted in FIGS. 6-21 have been successfully completed for the initial set of data, the automated application interface may be used to automatically perform the operations for subsequent sets of data, as illustrated in FIG. 22. The example automated application interface depicted in FIG. 22 utilizes a text file referred to as “EasyAPI,” which identifies the operations (export, run, import, calculate, export report, run) to be performed on the subsequent set of data and also identifies the sequence of the operations. For example, the automated application interface may be used to automatically perform the sequence of operations to generate an ABM report for the February 2006 period. In order to generate the February 2006 report, the export XML file depicted in FIG. 9 is updated to replace “January 2006” with “February 2006” and the “EasyAPI” file depicted in FIG. 22 is executed. Each operation identified in the “EasyAPI” file will execute in the designated sequence to create the February 2006 report. Moreover, the successful performance of each individual operation has already been verified, and therefore the automated process is unlikely to result in a failure. Once the automated operations are completed, a status notification is generated, as illustrated in FIG. 23, and the February 2006 report is generated, as shown in FIG. 24. Notably, the use of the automated application interface for the subsequent set of data saves the user the significant amount of time typically required to perform the manual operations shown in FIGS. 6-21. In addition, the automated application interface may enable a user to schedule execution of the operations at a select time and date, for example using a schedule task wizard, as illustrated in FIG. 25.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art.

It is further noted that the systems and methods described herein may be implemented on various types of computer architectures, such as for example on a single general purpose computer or workstation, or on a networked system, or in a client-server configuration, or in an application service provider configuration.

It is further noted that the systems and methods may include data signals conveyed via networks (e.g., local area network, wide area network, internet, etc.), fiber optic medium, carrier waves, wireless networks, etc. for communication with one or more data processing devices. The data signals can carry any or all of the data disclosed herein that is provided to or from a device.

Additionally, the methods and systems described herein may be implemented on many different types of processing devices by program code comprising program instructions that are executable by the device processing subsystem. The software program instructions may include source code, object code, machine code, or any other stored data that is operable to cause a processing system to perform methods described herein. Other implementations may also be used, however, such as firmware or even appropriately designed hardware configured to carry out the methods and systems described herein.

The systems' and methods'0 data (e.g., associations, mappings, etc.) may be stored and implemented in one or more different types of computer-implemented ways, such as different types of storage devices and programming constructs (e.g., data stores, RAM, ROM, Flash memory, flat files, databases, programming data structures, programming variables, IF-THEN (or similar type) statement constructs, etc.). It is noted that data structures describe formats for use in organizing and storing data in databases, programs, memory, or other computer-readable media for use by a computer program.

The systems and methods may be provided on many different types of computer-readable media including computer storage mechanisms (e.g., CD-ROM, diskette, RAM, flash memory, computer's hard drive, etc.) that contain instructions for use in execution by a processor to perform the methods' operations and implement the systems described herein.

The computer components, software modules, functions, data stores and data structures described herein may be connected directly or indirectly to each other in order to allow the flow of data needed for their operations. It is also noted that a module or processor includes but is not limited to a unit of code that performs a software operation, and can be implemented for example as a subroutine unit of code, or as a software function unit of code, or as an object (as in an object-oriented paradigm), or as an applet, or in a computer script language, or as another type of computer code. The software components and/or functionality may be located on a single computer or distributed across multiple computers depending upon the situation at hand. 

It is claimed:
 1. A method for providing an automated application interface, comprising: receiving a first set of data; using one or more wizards associated with one or more applications to receive first input used to perform one or more software interface operations, wherein the one or more software interface operations manipulate the first set of data between data analysis software and database software; verifying successful performance of the one or more software interface operations; for each software interface operation that is successfully performed, capturing information associated with the first input, and using the captured information to automatically generate an API XML template data store; receiving a manual update to one or more API XML template data stores, wherein the manual update identifies a subsequent set of data; receiving second input in a text editor manipulating a text file, wherein the text editor is a separate application from the one or more applications associated with the one or more wizards, wherein the second input includes textual commands for executing one or more API XML template data stores and identifies an execution sequence for one or more API XML template data stores, wherein the textual commands include an operation identifier and information identifying an API XML template data store associated with the operation identifier, and wherein the execution sequence is identified based on an ordering of the textual commands in the text file; receiving the identified subsequent set of data; and automatically executing the one or more API XML template data stores in the identified execution sequence to perform software interface and data analysis operations on the identified subsequent set of data.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving third input used to perform one or more database operations using the database software; and capturing information associated with the third input.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third input is received using one or more wizards.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the captured information identifies the software interface operations and the database operations.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data analysis software is activity based management software.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information identifies the software interface operations.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information identifies the software interface operations and the data analysis operations.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence for execution of the one or more API XML template data stores is identified based on input from a user.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the input includes manipulations to a text file.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence for execution of the one or more API XML template data stores is automatically identified based at least in part on input received from the one or more wizards.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a report that indicates whether the one or more API XML template data stores are successfully executed.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the report is in the form of an electronic message.
 13. A computer-implemented system for providing an automated application interface, comprising: one or more processors; a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including: receiving a first set of data; using one or more wizards associated with one or more applications to receive first input used to perform one or more software interface operations, wherein the one or more software interface operations manipulate the first set of data between data analysis software and database software; verifying successful performance of the one or more software interface operations; for each software interface operation that is successfully performed, capturing information associated with the first input, and using the captured information to automatically generate an API XML template data store; receiving a manual update to one or more API XML template data stores, wherein the manual update identifies a subsequent set of data; receiving second input in a text editor manipulating a text file, wherein the text editor is a separate application from the one or more applications associated with the one or more wizards, wherein the second input includes textual commands for executing one or more API XML template data stores and identifies an execution sequence for the one or more API XML template data stores, wherein the textual commands include an operation identifier and information identifying an API XML template data store associated with the operation identifier, and wherein the execution sequence is identified based on an ordering of the textual commands in the text file; receiving the identified subsequent set of data; and automatically executing the one or more API XML template data stores in the identified execution sequence to perform software interface and data analysis operations on the identified subsequent set of data.
 14. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to: receive a first set of data; use one or more wizards associated with one or more applications to receive first input used to perform one or more software interface operations, wherein the one or more software interface operations manipulate the first set of data between data analysis software and database software; verify successful performance of the one or more software interface operations; for each software interface operation that is successfully performed, capture information associated with the first input, and use the captured information to automatically generate an API XML template data store; receive a manual update to one or more API XML template data stores, wherein the manual update identifies a subsequent set of data; receive second input in a text editor manipulating a text file, wherein the text editor is a separate application from the one or more applications associated with the one or more wizards, wherein the second input includes textual commands for executing one or more API XML template data stores and identifies an execution sequence for the one or more API XML template data stores, wherein the textual commands include an operation identifier and information identifying an API XML template data store associated with the operation identifier, and wherein the execution sequence is identified based on an ordering of the textual commands in the text file; receive the identified subsequent set of data; and automatically execute the one or more API XML template data stores in the identified execution sequence to perform software interface and data analysis operations on the identified subsequent set of data. 